Use of Lightweight Lime Mortar in the Construction of the West Church of Umm el-Jimal, Jordan: Radiocarbon Dating and Characterization

Radiocarbon dating of the West Church at Umm el-Jimal, Jordan, reveals its construction dates to the Late Roman–Early Byzantine periods (5th–6th centuries CE), contradicting earlier archaeological estimates. The study also identifies the use of lightweight lime mortar in the church's dome, characterized by hydraulic properties and scoria sourced from the nearby Quais volcanic cone. Researchers analyzed mortar samples using accelerator mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, petrographic microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to confirm the mineralogical and chemical composition of the scoria, supporting its local origin due to similarities in features and proximity.

Al-Bashaireh, K. (2016). Use of Lightweight Lime Mortar in the Construction of the West Church of Umm el-Jimal, Jordan: Radiocarbon Dating and Characterization. Radiocarbon, 58(3), 583–598. https://doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2016.40